Self-operating drapery



Jam.. 6, 1970 H. sHuKAT ETAL 3,48%8'35 SELF-OPERATING DRAPERY Filed Jan. 23, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVFIN'FUKS HARRY SHUKAT ERlC HARMAN HY jm. 6, 1970 H. SHUKAT ETAL SELF-OPERATING DRAPERY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 23, 1968 INVENTORS HARRY SHUKAT ERIC HARMAN United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 160--84 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A self-operating drapery having a sheet member secured at its top to a support means and raised and lowered by means of a shade roller also mounted on said support means. The shade roller is connected to the sheet member by a plurality of control strings and a plurality of spaced retaining members secured to the back face of said sheet member and is operated by an operating string secured thereto. A series of horizontal pleats are formed in said sheet member upon the raising of said drapery.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to coverings for window openings, and more particplarly, to coverings of the shade type. Such window shades are generally made of a heavy paper such as parchment, which is secured to and wound about a shade roller. Such conventional window shades have very little decorative effect, particularly when disposed in the raised position. For this reason, window shades are generally limited to purely functional purposes requiring the addition of further window coverings such as drapes and or Valances in order to create desired decorative effects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a self-operating drapery is provided which includes a sheet member preferably sized to at least substantially cover a window opening, support means secured to a fixed support and having the sheet member secured thereto, a shade roller rotatably mounted on said support member and operated by an operating string secured thereto, a plurality of spaced retaining members secured to the sheet member and projecting from the back face thereof, and a plurality of control strings. Each of the control strings is secured at one end to the shade roller, secured at its other end to the lowermost region of said sheet member and extends loosely through a companion set of retaining members therebetween. A handle is provided at the other end of the operating string.

When the shade roller is operated to raise the drapery, a series of horizontal pleats is formed in the sheet member. The sheet member may be formed of a wide variety of fabrics having any desired design thereon. This combination of pleats plus the use of fabrics will permit the creation of many pleasing decorative effects.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to providev a self-operating drapery utilizing a shade roller which creates a pleasing decorative effect in both the lowered and raised positions. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a selfoperating drapery wherein substantially all of the operative mechanisms are concealed when the drapery is viewed from the front in both the raised and lowered positions,

A further object of the invention is to provide a selfoperating drapery which is easily assembled, installed and operated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a 3,487,875 Patented Jan. 6, 1970 ICC self-operating drapery that forms a series of horizontal pleats in the raised and intermediate positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selfoperating drapery particularly adapted for covering window openings.

. Still other objects and advantages of' the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a front elevational view of one type of drapery for covering window openings constructed in accordance with the invention and disposed in a window opening in the lowered position;

FIG. Z is a front elevational view of the drapery of FIG. 1 disposed in the raised position;

FIGS. 3 and 5 are enlarged sectional views taken along lines 3-3 and 5 5, respectively, of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 1 with the central portion broken away; and

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the drapery of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the drapery 10 is shown mounted in a window opening 12. The drapery has a sheet member 14, sized to at least substantially cover the window opening 12 when fully extended, said sheet member being preferably formed of a fabric. The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is formed of two separate plies of fabric. The front ply 15 and the back ply 16 are preferably secured together by stitching.

Secured to the sash 18 at the top of the window opening 12, is support means 20. The ysupport means comprises a top wall 21, a pair of laterally spaced side walls 22 and 23 depending from the top wall and a bottom wall 24 laterally spaced from top wall 21 and secured to side walls 22 and 23. In addition, support means 20 may be provided with rear wall 25 adapted to enclose the substantially rectangular box formed by the top, side and bottom walls. The top portion of the sheet member 14 is secured to support means 20, preferably by means of nails 26. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the nails 26 extend only through back ply 16 of sheet member 14. By this arrangement, front ply 15 of the sheet member covers the heads of nails 26, so that the means for securing the sheet member to the support means is not visible when the drapery is viewed from the front.

Rotatably mounted `by means of brackets 27 and 28 between side walls 22 and 23 of support means 20 is shade roller 30. 'Ihe shade roller is of conventional design well known in the prior art. Thus, the cylindrical body 32 of the shade roller has a stub shaft 34 fixed to one end, said shaft being rotatable in a corresponding socket formed in `bracket 27. A second shaft 36 extends from the other end of cylindrical body 30, terminating in a attened portion that rests in a corresponding socket in bracket 28. The second shaft 36 extends into cylindrical body 30 and is rotatable in relation to the cylindrical body.

The external mechanism of shade roller 30 (not shown) comprises a ratchet carried on shaft 36, one or more pawls hingedly secured within cylindrical body 32 and adapted to operatively engage the ratchet and a spring connecting the second shaft" 36 to the cylindrical body 32. The spring is biased to rotate the cylindrical body with respect to the second shaft to rewind a shade or the like about the shade roller upon the release of the pawl. The pawls are generally released from engagement vwith the ratchet wheel by` a sharp downward pull on the shade or the like. The operatingjmechanism of the shade roller as described above is merely one possible arrangement. The detailed design of said operating ymechanism is not critical to the drapery according to the invention, and any shade roller having similar functional characteristics could be utilized therein. i

The shade roller 30 is formed with a longitudinal channel 38 extending along the face of cylindrical lbody 32. Spaced within longitudinal channel 38 are five substantially cylindrical end elements 40 secured to one end of lengths of string 42 and 43. The channel is narrower at its opening than at its base, so that the end elements 40 are retained in the channel. The end elements may be removed by displacing them to the end of the channel. Each length of string 42 and 43 extends from the shade roller 30 through apertures 44 in support means bottom wall 24. Set in apertures 44 are bearings 46 which prevent chafing of the lengths of string as they pass through the apertures.

Secured to sheet member back ply 16 are a plurality of spaced retaining members 48 preferably aligned to define a plurality of substantially horizontal and vertical lines. One of the lengths of string 42 and 43 are aligned with and correspond to the retaining members defining each of said vertical lines. The retaining members 48 are preferably formed in the shape of a ring and sewn to sheet member back ply 16. Operating string 43 extends loosely through the central opening of the corresponding ringshaped retaining members 48 so as to slidably engage said retaining members. Secured to the other end of operating string 43 is handle 50.

Each of the control strings 42 extends through the central opening in the top three of the corresponding ringshaped retaining members 48 and are secured to the bottommost of said corresponding retaining members, preferably by being passed through the central opening therein and being tied off. Disposed between the front and back plies of sheet member 14 are three longitudinal stiffening members 52. These stiffening members 52 extend laterally of the sheet member 14 adjacent the horizontal lines defined by retaining members 48. A further stilfening mem- -ber 54 is disposed between the front and back plies of sheet member 14 substantially along the bottommost horizontal line denfied by the retaining members. Further stiffening member 54 is heavier than stiffening members 52, and serves as a weight to prevent curling and wrinkling of sheet member 14. Stiffening members 52 and 54 are secured between the plies by stitching.

The drapery according to the invention is operated in the same manner as a conventional shade. However, instead of pulling on a String secured directly to a sheet member which is, in turn, wound around and secured to a shade roller, the drapery according to the invention is operated by pulling on handle 50 secured to operating string 43, which in turn operates shade roller 30. Thus, if the drapery 10 is in a fully extended position as in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, it is raised by sharply pulling on handle 50 which releases the pawl within shade roller 30, permitting the spring-loaded shade roller to rotate. As the shade roller rotates, lengths of string 42 and 43 are wound about the shade roller, thereby lifting the bottom portion of sheet member 14 along the horizontal line defined by the bottom-most of retaining members 48. As the sheet member is raised, the portion of the sheet member between each pair of adjacent horizontal lines of retaining members 48 extend outwardly to define a pleat while the horizontal lines of retaining members are gathered in sequence and carried upward by the bottommost line of retaining members.

The drapery in the fully` raised position is shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. In this position, a series of overlapping pleats are formed by the sheet member 14, presenting a kpleasing decorativeeffe'ct. The draperyi maybe.. raised to any intermediate positionfinfwhieh .ase a Vri'ui'nber of pleats, dependinaon the amount thedr'aperv' isirased, will be-formed at'the bottom ofsheetfmemberiIM. Accordingly, thepleasing-decorative# effect Scased by the pleats is also present'whenthe shade-is in an intermediate Position'. While the embodimentnf.theinvention shown in the drawings has four control ,strings 42. securedat their bottom end to sheet member'14, the precisememb'er of control strings 42 will depend on the; widthoffisheet member 14 and the nature of the material-'of whichthe sheet member is formed.: Operatingl string 43, which 'operates the shade roller, need notfbe centrally -located,.but could be placed in any position along shade roller 30.-.'The1'vertical line of retaining members 48, slidingly engaging operating string 43, is not essential to the operation of.. the drapery according tothe invention' andcan be eliminated. In addition, control stringsk 42 "may be secured directly to the lowermost region of ,sheet member 14frfather than to the bottommost line of ,retainingfmernber-s. The above described arrangement permits'the ,use of a wide variety of fabrics and Atherefore auwide 4variety of decorative effects. In addition, since theI shade is not 'operated by applying force to sheet member 14 itself, as in the case of conventional shades, the sheetmember may be formed of relatively fragile fabrics. l f As mentioned above, sheet member14'of the embodiment of the invention show n in the drawingsisvformed of two plies of fabric. In lthis embodiment, the 4 front ,ply 15 would be a decorative fabric ,of the color, design and texture to create the desired decorative effect. The'back ply 16 will generally be of a more functional fabric adapted to serve as insulation between the ,room and the window opening or to provide body and support for `vthe more fragile fabric of the front ply. However, the drapery according to the invention could be formed with a single ply sheet member, if desired. Whilefthe sheet member 14 is preferably sized to at least substantially cover the window opening 12, a drapery according'to'the invention could be utilized to cover an entire wall'orlsection thereof having one or more window openingstherein, in which case the sheet member would bey sized accordingly/ A drapery according to the invention.,Could also 'be utilized to cover a wall or section thereof r,having no window 'openings therein. f. 1f A large factor in the pleasing decorative effect :created by the `drapery according to the invention ,isythe fact `that the operating mechanism ofy the drapery including the support means 20, the shade roller 30, the retainingmerlnfbers 48, the lengths of string 42 and 43, andthe stiffenj ing members 52 and53 are substantiallyconcealed when the drapery is viewed from ,the frontinboth Athe raised and lowered positions, This effect canbe enhancediby adjusting operating string 43 so that even handle .Sllris concealed from view. Handle 50 -can also. be concealed from view by an additional short length offabric. depending from sheet member 14 below further stiffeningxrneme ber 54, if desired. Y ,g

It will thusbe seen that the objects set forth'above,;and those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and since certain changes mayv be made in the above vconstructions without departingfrom the spirit and scope of.l the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in therabove description orshown in the accompanying drawingsl shall bejinterpretedffas. illustrated and not in a limiting sense. f' v What is claimed is: l 1 1 1. A self-operating drapery comprising supportmeans adapted to be secured to alixed support; a decorative sheet member of predetermined size and shape secured at its top ege to said support means a shade roller rotatably mounted on said support means adjacent to said top edge; an operating string secured at one end to said roller and depending downwarly therefrom at the rear face of said sheet member for operative manipulation of said roller for raising and lowering said sheet member a plurality of spaced retaining members secured to said sheet member and projecting from the rear face thereof; a plurality of control strings secured at one end to said roller and extending loosely through a companion set of retaining members and secured at the opposite end to a lowermost region of said sheet member, said control strings raising and lowering said sheet member in response to the movement of said operating string of said roller said retaining members being aligned to dene a plurality of substantially horizontal and vertical lines, each of said vertical lines of retaining members forming the companion Set for one of said control strings, said control strings being secured to said sheet member along a further substantially horizontal line; a further plurality of retaining members secured to said sheet member rear face and aligned with said operating string in a substantially vertical line a plurality of longitudinal stitfening members, one of said stiffening members extending laterally of said sheet member adjacent each of said horizontal lines dened by said retaining members; and a further stiifening member extending laterally of said sheet member adjacent said further horizontal line, said stiiening members being secured to said sheet member, whereby a series of horizontal pleats are formed in said sheet member upon the raising thereof.

2. A self-operating drapery as recited in claim 1, wherein said sheet member is formed from at least front and rear plies of fabric secured together said drapery including means for securing said rear ply to said support means, said opposite end of said control strings and said retaining members being secured to said rear ply, said front ply overlapping said securing means, support means, shade roller, rear ply, stiifening members, retaining members and control strings.

3. A self-operating drapery comprising support means adapted to be secured to a xed support; a decorative sheet member of predetermined size and shape secured at its top edge to said support means a plurality of end elements; a shade roller rotatably mounted on said support means adjacent to said top edge, said shade roller being formed with a longitudinal channel along its face open at least one end, said end elements being retained within said channel and being removable upon the longitudinal displacement thereof to said open end an operating string secured at one end to an end element and depending downwardly therefrom at the rear face of said sheet member for operative manipulation of said roller or raising and lowering said sheet member; a plurality of spaced retaining members secured to said sheet member and projecting from the rear face thereof; a plurality of control strings secured at one end to end elements and extending loosely through a companion set of retaining members and secured at the opposite end to a lowermost region of said sheet member, said control strings raising and lowering said sheet member in response to the movement of said operating string 0f said roller.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,326,249 12/1919 Batty 160-84 1,482,978 2/1924 Edwards l60-84 2,049,518 8/1936 Schier 160-84 2,149,481 3/1939 Van Bosch et al. 160-5 X 2,260,101 10/1941 De Falco 160-84 2,310,014 2/1943 Apfel 160--84 X 3,322,182 5/1967 Palella 160-34 X 3,371,700 3/1968 Romano 160-84 3,389,737 6/1968 Arnold et al l60*176 X FOREIGN PATENTS.

545,971 7/1956 Italy.

DAVID I. WILIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner PHILIP C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. -344 

